UCI 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

If you're a utility communicaitons professional, you don't want to miss this!

Hosted at Southern Company's Headquaters in Atlanta, UCI's 2024 conference is the foremost interactive, two-day professional development opportunity built by communicators for communicators. NOTE: The Twelve Downtown - Autograph Collection Hotel is right across the street from the UCI conference at Southern Company. REGISTER BY JUNE 1, 2024 TO SAVE $200 ($1,499 vs $1,699).

June 18-20, 2024 | Atlanta, GA

• Connect with other utility communicators.
• Discuss hot utility communication topics.
• Gain insight on successful initiatives.
• Be inspired by utility and partner speakers.
• Draw inspiration from the utility communications community.

UCI Conference Agenda

Tuesday, June 18

5-7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception at Max Lager Wood-Fired Grill & Brewery Brewery Tavern Rm., 320 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta (.2 mi. from Twelve Hotel/Southern Company HQ; 5 min. walk)

• Mix and mingle with your utility communications friends while enjoying delicious appetizers and your favorite beverages
• Welcome remarks from Brian Green, Georgia Power Brand Director

Wednesday, June 19 (Juneteenth)

7:30 a.m. Registration & Hot Breakfast

8:15 a.m. Welcome to the UCI 2024 Conference

• Brandy Powers, UCI President & Director of Brand, Advertising & Customer Communications at NorthWestern Energy

8:20 a.m. Juneteenth History

• Crystal Ashbourne, Assistant to the President, Chairman & CEO at Georgia Power, and UCI board member

8:30 a.m. Welcome to Atlanta

• Schuyler Baehman, Southern Company Vice President of Corporate Communications

9:00 a.m. Energy Industry: Innovation, New Technologies

• Bill Nussey, Partner at Tech Square Ventures / Engage

9:45 a.m. Networking Break

10:00 a.m. AI for Utility Communicators: The Risks and The Rewards

• Nicole Carter, Brand Strategy Manager at Georgia Power

11:00 a.m. Moderated Open Discussion: You Have Questions, We Have Answers - Bring your burning utility communications questions, ideas and feedback

• Moderator: Joe Gehrdes, Director of Community Relations, Huntsville Utilities, and UCI board member

12:00 p.m. Lunch - Catered by Danilo’s Southern Kitchen

1:00 p.m. Panel: How Big Brands Ensure Inclusive Communications

• Moderator: Crystal Ashbourne

Join leaders from Coca-Cola, the Atlanta Hawks, Delta and Georgia Power for a panel discussion on inclusive communications. Discover how these brands reach diverse communities, celebrate cultural events authentically, and integrate inclusivity into their internal and external messaging strategy to truly represent our increasingly diverse society.

• Kiara Lane, Director of Global Strategic Communications, the McDonald’s Div., Coca-Cola
• Alexis Roe, Vice President of DEI Impact and Strategic Initiatives, Atlanta Hawks
• Ryanna Beckham, Manager of Brand Purpose and Social Impact, Delta

2:30 p.m. Depart for a self-guided tour of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd. (1/2 mile, 10-minute walk through Centennial Park – wear comfortable shoes)

• Stephanie Cooper, loaned Southern Company executive, to provide welcome

4:30-5 p.m. Arrive back at The Twelve Hotel

Dinner on your own or plan to meet up with UCI colleagues

Thursday, June 20

7:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:15 a.m. Welcome to Day Two

• Brandy Powers

8:30 a.m. The ABCs of Safety: Developing a Children's Educational Campaign

• Jessica Luternauer, Senior Vice President and Partner at Southwest Strategies

9:30 a.m. The Persuasive Power of Creativity … That’s Also Strategic

• Tony Chance, Business Development Strategist at Flynn Wright
• Kiersten Maertens, Managing Director of Account Strategy at Flynn Wright

10:30 a.m. Networking break

11 a.m. The Energy Transformation Landscape

• Alexis Sulentic, Sr. Manager of External Affairs at EEI

12:00 p.m. Lunch & Board Elections

1:30 p.m. Removing Barriers to Public Acceptance through Strategic Outreach and Communications: A Case Study

• Jennifer Jordan, Sr. Public Affairs Specialist for Colorado Springs Utilities

2:30 p.m. How “Words People” Can Use Insights and Data to Create Effective Communications and Strengthen Customer Relationships (and Win Awards)

• Brian Phillips, Director of Brand, Advertising, Customer & Digital Communications at Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities (LG&E and KU)

3:30 p.m. Meeting adjourns to prepare for BCC Live!

5-9:00 p.m. BCC Live! at The Roof at Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE

• Join us for the first-ever Better Communications Competition Live! event. This self-pitch style competition will showcase the year’s best creative ideas during an exciting evening of competition, inspiration, live voting and recognition you won’t want to miss. Enter the BCC Live!
• Arrive early (pre-activity: all-access passes to Ponce Market) – Receive all-access wristbands at end of UCI conference

5 p.m. Roebuck Room: Event kicks off with Cocktail Hour – grab a signature drink, nosh on passed appetizers, mingle, prep for your pitch

6-7:30 p.m. Pitch session

7:30 p.m. Dinner served

Board meets to tally votes

8 p.m. Presentation of the BCC Live! Awards

8:30 p.m. Champagne toast & Wrap-up

9 p.m. After-Party: Explore Skyline Park – enjoy unlimited midway games and rides at Skyline Park

NEW THIS YEAR:

Raise a glass to the brightest utility communicaitons minds at the first-ever Better Communications Competition Live! We'll celebrate the year's best creative ideas during an exciting evening of competition, inspiration and recognition. Anyone who attends the annual conference can enter.

• Zero entry fees!
• No lenghty write-ups.
• Fierce competition.
• Serious fun!